Apparatus for packaging articles

ABSTRACT

A machine is provided for packaging articles in flexible sheet material. An improved, simplified drive for the machine operates components thereof with a minimum of controls and mechanical elements. The machine includes a feeder that supplies articles to an escapement which delivers a predetermined number of the articles to a package enclosure as it is being formed of the flexible sheet material. The sheet material is in strip form and is longitudinally advanced by feed rolls at intervals, the contents being printed on the material which is subsequently transversely sealed, when stopped. After the material is sealed, it can be separated into individual packages. The drive for the machine includes means for operating the sealing devices, the escapement, and the printer, in timed relationship through a single drive shaft. The machine also includes closure members for temporarily closing a portion of the sheet material before articles are supplied thereto, prior to the material being permanently sealed.

United States Patent Gess [54] APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES [72]Inventor: Larry C. Gess, 1255 Fir Drive, Toledo,

Ohio 43612 221 Filed: May 18,1970

21 Appl.No.: 38,143

[52] U.S. Cl ..53/l3l, 53/180, 53/183 [51 ....B65b 61/02, B65b 9/06 [58]Field ofSearch ..53/l31, 180, 183

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,481,099 12/1969 Clancy..53/l80 X 3,293,824 12/1966 Dorr ...53/l31 3,507,092 4/1970 Wickersheim...53/1 31 3,611,658 10/1971 Dwyer ..53/l3l [451 June 27, 1972 PrimaryExaminer-Travis S. McGehee Attorney-Allen D. Gutchess, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A machine is provided for packaging articles in flexiblesheet material. An improved, simplified drive for the machine operatescomponents thereof with a minimum of controls and mechanical elements.The machine includes a feeder that supplies articles to an escapementwhich delivers a predetermined number of the articles to a packageenclosure as it is being formed of the flexible sheet material. Thesheet material is in strip form and is longitudinally advanced by feedrolls at intervals, the contents being printed on the material which issub sequently transversely sealed, when stopped. After the material issealed, it can be separated into individual packages. The drive for themachine includes means for operating the sealing devices, theescapement, and the printer, in timed relationship through a singledrive shaft. The machine also includes closure members for temporarilyclosing a portion of the sheet material before articles are suppliedthereto, prior to the material being permanently sealed.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 2 I97? I 3.672.119

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sum 5 or s INVENTOR. kmzm C. Gess A'rrom i APPARATUS FOR PACKAGINGARTICLES This invention relates to a packaging machine and moreparticularly to an article-packaging machine having an improved drivearrangement.

Numerous machines are known in the art for packaging small articles inindividual enclosures of flexible sheet material. Such machines asheretofore known, however, have tended to be unduly cumbersome, heavy,complicated, expensive, and high in maintenance costs. The machineaccording to the invention, and particularly with the improved drivearrangement therefor, is relatively small, simple, reliable,maintenance-free, and inexpensive.

The new machine is particularly adapted for use in hospitals. More andmore, a need has arisen in hospitals for individually packaging andlabeling single doses of tablets or capsules for patients. With thetablets carefully sealed and labeled, it is assured that the properpatient receives the proper medicine, thereby minimizing the possibilityof mistakes and wastefulness, as occurs when medicines are dispensedfrom common, large containers. The package also remains sealed up to thetime of delivery to the bedside of the patient to avoid contamination.Further, with the indicia showing the contents applied to the package atthe time the tablet is inserted, the identification of the medicineremains with it to the time of delivery to thepatient to avoid possibleerrors.

Since up to several hundred packages of each of several differenttablets or capsules are needed by an average or larger size hospitaldaily, a machine for packaging such is a necessity. The instant machinemeets this need and is particularly suitable for hospitals since themachine is small and relatively simle, requiring less space andmaintenance, and being easy to operate by hospital personnel of limitedskill.

The machine includes means for supporting a supply of flexible sheetmaterial in strip form which is advanced intermittently along apredetermined path and folded into U-shape configuration, forming alongitudinally-extending trough. The articles, specifically tablets orcapsules, are placed in a hopper having a circular rotating bottom whichcentrifugally urges the articles to the outer edge thereof. At thispoint, the articles are confined in a row and directed to an escapementwhich reciprocates to feed a predetermined number of the articles down achute and into the trough formed by the sheet material. The sheetmaterial, as it advances, moves around a stationary guide plate havingan edge associated with the chute to direct the articles into the troughof the material. The upper free edges of the material are then sealed byrollers which also advance the strip, and as transversely-disposedportions are sealed by reciprocating sealing devices. The material canthen be perforated or severed along lines generally bi-secting thetransversely-sealed portions to provide individually, fullysealedpackages.

As the U-shaped material advances past the guide plate, one side of thematerial moves between the plate and a printing tape which advancesintermittently along one side of the guide plate. A reciprocatingprinting head then moves the printing tape against the surface of theflexible sheet material to provide indicia which indicates the contentsof the package.

In accordance with the invention, a new simplified drive arrangement isprovided for various components of the machine. A single drive shaft isused to pivotally drive additional shafts which operate the escapementto move a predetermined number of articles from the hopper to the chutefor directing them into the trough of the sheet material, which move theprinting head against the printing tape to apply indicia to the sheetmaterial and also advance the printing tape, and which operate thesealing devices to seal transverse portions of the strip of flexiblesheet material. The machine further includes closure means for closingoff or actually restricting transversely-disposed portions of the sheetmaterial to retain the article therein, prior to the sealing memberspermanently sealing the sheet material along the transverse portions.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide apackaging machine having an improved, simplified drive arrangementtherefor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine whichis less complicated, more maintenance-free, and more reliable than thoseheretofore known.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an overall view in perspective from an upper angle of apackaging machine embodying the invention, with certain drive means forcomponents thereof being shown somewhat schematically;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation, taken from the left end ofthe machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat schematic view in perspective of the drivearrangement for the components of the machine;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of closure and sealing meansof the machine of FIG. I; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, right-side view in elevation of the closure andsealing means of FIG. 5.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the article-packaging machineaccording to the invention comprises a housing 10 having an upper flatsupporting platform 11. The housing 10 encloses a drive system for themachine to be discussed subsequently while the supporting platform 11provides a mounting base for certain machine components. An articlehopper 12 is mounted on the platform 11 and includes a cylindrical wall13 extending upwardly and open at both the top and bottom. A guideflange or web 14 projects inwardly from an intermediate portion of theside of the cylindrical wall 13 and extends around approximatelyone-half the internal circumference of the wall 13. The web increases inwidth as it approaches an opening 14a in the wall 13. A depending flange15 extends downwardly from the guide web 14 and is spaced from thecylindrical wall 13 to provide an arcuate guide passage between the wall13 and the depending flange l5 having a discharge opening near theopening 14a in the wall 13. The arcuate guide passage communicates withan article receiving cavity 16 in an escapement 17 when the latter is ina retracted or receiving position to supply a predetermined number ofthe articles or pills into the cavity. With the escapement 17 in thereceiving position, the web 14 is wide enough to direct articles in thehopper 12 past the end of the escape ment 17(see FIG. 2).

The escapement I7 is in the form of an elongate rectangular block whichis secured to an actuating slide 18 through suitable means such as ascrew 19 and a pin 20. This method of attachment facilitates removal ofthe escapement from the slide 18 so that it can be readily replaced byanother escapement containing a cavity of different size so as toaccommodate different sizes of articles or number of them. The slide 18has transversely-extending guide flanges 21 received in ways 22 to guidethe escapement 17 in a reciprocatory path in the opening of the hopperwall 13. A gear rack 23 is affixed to the lower surface of the slide 18and meshes with a pinion 24 located below the slide 18 and mounted on ashaft 24a to impart the reciprocatory movement to the escapement.

A guide chute 25 is positioned to receive the articles discharged fromthe escapement cavity 16 as the escapement 17 moves out of the hopper l2and the articles drop out of the bottom of the cavity 16. These articlesare then directed into the packaging material to be discussedsubsequently.

The articles or pills in the hopper 12 are supported on a rotatable flatdisc or table 26 which forms the bottom of the hopper. As the discrotates, centrifugal force urges the articles toward and against thewall 13 and with the disc 26 rotating in a clockwise direction, as shownin FIG. I, the articles tend to be moved into the guide track formedbetween the depending flange l5 and the wall 13. Those articles notreceived in the guide track move along the inner surface of thedepending flange l5 and are directed past the rear end of the escapement17 so as to continue to move in a generally circular path until finallyreceived in the guide track. When in the track, they are constantlyurged toward the eseapement l7 and toward the cavity 16 by the rotatingdisc 26. The disc 26 is mounted on a central shaft 27 extendingdownwardly therefrom and into the housing 10.

A supply reel or spool 28 is rotatably mounted on vertical brackets 29with flexible sheet material in the form of a strip or web 30 wound onthe reel 28. This material preferably is of a cohesive,pressure-sensitive type and forms a seal when pressed together. Theentire strip need not be cohesive but only the portions to be sealed,namely the longitudinal edges of the strip and spaced, transverseportions thereof. The strip of sheet material is guided below a roller31 and is then formed by guides 31a into a U-shaped configuration,forming a longitudinally-extending trough, with free ends of thematerial extending upwardly. The U-shaped strip then advances around avertically-disposed guide plate or member 32 which is supported by andextends downwardly from the platform 11. The guide plate 32 forms aninclined guide or cam end 32a which is engaged by the articles fallingfrom the chute 25 and directs them into the trough formed by the strip30. The strip 30 is moved in an intermittent manner by a pair of feedrolls 33 located downstream of the chute 25 and engaging the upper edgeportions of the opposite sides of the U-shaped strip. The feed rolls 33are effective not only to advance the strip 30 but to press together theupper edge portions and seal them, after the article has been inserted.The rolls 33 are affixed to vertically-disposed drive shafts 34 whichextend downwardly into the housing and are operated in an intermittentmanner to impart the step-by-step movement to the strip 30 of packagingmaterial.

indicia describing articles contained in the packaging material isapplied to the strip 30 in the intervals between the advancing movementsthereof. With the indicia printed substantially at the same time thearticles are inserted, the chances of mistake in the identification,particularly when pills or capsules are being packaged, are held to aminimum, thereby assuring that the patient will receive the prescribedpills. To impart the indicia to one side of the U-shaped strip 30, aroll of printing tape 35 is located on a supply spool 35a. The tape 35is of a commercially available type and can be in the form of metal foilor other sheet material for supplying the printing to the strip. Thetape 35 passes from the supply spool below the guide plate 32, up alongthe side thereof, and over a guide 35b. The printing tape 35 then movesfrom the guide plate 35b to a take-up reel 36. The one side of theU-shaped strip 30 thereby is located between the tape 35 and the guideplate 32. The guide plate 32 has a pad or cushion mounted thereon,preferably of a Teflon-coated rubber, to provide a backing against whichthe strip 30 is supported during printmg.

Printing of the indicia through the tape 35 is achieved by a printinghead or block 37 which is horizontally movable toward and away from thetape 35. The face of the printing head 37 carries suitable printing typeand when moved forwardly, the type engages the tape 35 and through itimprints or impresses the desired indicia on the side of the strip 30.When necessary, the printing head 37 can be heated, depending on thetype of printing tape employed. I

A gear rack 38 is located on a lower portion of the printing head 37 andmeshes with a pinion gear 39 mounted on a shaft 40. The pinion gear 39is driven with an arcuate movement to impart a reciprocating movement tothe printing head.

Movement of the tape 35 is achieved through a pair of pull rollers 41mounted above and below the tape adjacent the take-up spool 36. Theupper roller 41 has a shaft 41a on which a pinion 42 is rotatablymounted and engageable therewith through a one-way clutch 42a. Thepinion 42 engages a gear rack 43 mounted on the printing head 37. Asheave 44 is mounted on the shaft 41a of the roller 41 and is connectedby a belt 45 in the form of an O-ring to a sheave 46 affixed to a shaftof the reel 36. The one-way clutch 42a causes the pull rollers 41 toadvance the tape 35 on retracting movement of the printing head 37 awayfrom the guide plate 32. When the printing head moves forwardly, thepinion 42 simply rotates on the shaft 41a.

During intervals between movements of the strip 30, transverse portionsof the strip are sealed to close the ends of the package. Sealingdevices in the form of a pair of blocks or members 47 and 48 are used topress the strip 30 together along the transverse portions and effect theseal. if desired, the sealing blocks 47 and 48 can havecentrally-located serrated edges or projections therealong to perforatethe strip centrally of the sealed portions so that the strip cansubsequently be separated into individual packages along the perforatedlines. The sealing blocks 47 and 48 are slidably mounted on guide rods49 to guide the blocks in paths toward and away from the strip 30 andeach other. The blocks have gear racks 50 afiixed thereto which meshwith pinions 51 to impart the reciprocating movement to the slideblocks. The pinions 51 are mounted on drive shafts 52 extending into thehousing 10 where they are driven by means to be discussed subsequently.An extension or flange 53 extends outwardly from the block 47 and has aslot 54 therein through which the associated drive shaft 52 extends.

Cutter blades 55 and 56 are employed to sever the individual packageswhen the perforations are not used. The cutter blades 55 and 56 arepivotally supported on an upper pin 56 for pivotal movement toward andaway from the strip 30. Generally vertical slots 58 are located in thelower portions of the blades 55 and 56 to receive drive pins 59. Thepins 59 extend from the blocks 47 and 48 and specifically from theflange 53 for the block 47. When the blocks 47 and 48 move toward oneanother to seal the strip 30, they simultaneously move the blades 55 and56 toward and beyond one another in overlapping relationship to severthe packages from the continuous web. The blades 55 and 56 are locatedone package width, or a given number of package widths, beyond thesealing blocks 47 and 48 to enable the packages to be severed at thesame time that other packages are being sealed.

The drive system for operating the various components of the packagingmachine, in timed relationships, is relatively simple and maintenancefree. Power is derived from an electric motor 60 which, through a gearreduction box 61, rotates a main drive sprocket 62. The sprocket 62 isconnected by a chain 63 to a driven sprocket 64 mounted on a shaft 65.As second sprocket 66 on the shaft rotates with the sprocket 64 anddrives the table 26 and its shaft 27 through a chain 67 and a sprocket68. The table 26 thereby is continuously rotated as long as the motor 60is energized. A sprocket 69 on the shaft 27 rotates with the sprocket 68and, through a chain 70, drives a sprocket 71. The sprocket 71 is freeto rotate relative to the shaft 34 except when an electromagnetic clutch72 is energized. The clutch 72 periodically is energized long enough toadvance the strip 30 a distance equal to one package width through thefeed roll 33.

When an electromagnetic clutch 73 is energized, the sprocket 64 isconnected to the shaft 65 and rotates a cam disc 74. The clutch 73 isenergized when the clutch 72 is de-energized so that all motionsachieved through the cam disc 74 occur with the packaging material strip30 at rest. The clutch 73 is energized long enough to drive the cam disc74 though one complete revolution. At the end of one revolution, aspring-loaded roller 75 is received in a notch 76 of the cam disc 74 toassure that the disc 74 will be rotated exactly one revolution eachtime. The roller 75 is mounted on a slide 77 received in a slot 78 of alink 79. A spring 80 is located below the link 79 to urge the roller 75toward the cam disc 74. The link 79 is pivotally connected to the camdisc 74 by a pin 81 and, in turn, is connected by a pin 82 to a shaftarm 83. The arm 83 is affixed to a lower end of the shaft 40, below asupporting member 84 which also spaces apart the shafts 65 and 40. Whenthe cam disc 74 rotates through one revolution, the shaft 40 and the arm83 pivot back and forth through an included angle of about 48.

The shaft 40 extends upwardly to the printer feed pinion 39 to operatethe printing head 37 as discussed previously. The shaft 40 also operatesan intermediate arm 85 thereon, causing it to move through an arcuatepath having an included angle of about 48. The arm 85 imparts the samearcuate movement directly to an intermediate disc or member 86 through alink 87 pivoted to the arm 85 by a pin 88 and to the disc 86 by a pin89. The disc 86 is affixed to the escapement shaft 24a which drives theescapement 17 through one complete back and forth stroke by pivotalmovement of the pinion 24. At the same time, the direct arcuate movementis imparted to an arm 90 affixed to the right hand shaft 52 for thesealing block 47. This is achieved through a lower link 91 connected tothe disc 86 by a pin 92 and to the arm 90 by a pin 93. The sealing block48 is similarly driven through the left hand shaft 52 by an arm 94connected thereto. An upper link 95 connects the intermediate disc 86and the arm 94, being pivotally connected to these members respectivelyby pins 96 and 97.

From the above, it will be seen that all of the components which operatewhen the packaging material strip 30 is at rest are operated directlythrough the single rotation of the cam disc 74. The single revolutioncauses the shaft 40 to sweep through its arcuate path and back to itsoriginal position which causes the printing head 37 to move forwardlyagainst the one side of the packaging material 30, with the tape 35therebetween, and then back to its retracted position. During the lattermovement of the printing head 37, the rollers 41 cause the printing tape35 to advance a predetermined increment by movement of the roller 41through the one-way clutch 41a.

The pivotal movement of the intermediate disc 86 also imparts the samemovement to the shaft 24a causing the escapement 17 to move the recess16 out of the hopper 12 and enable the article in the recess 16 to dropthrough the chute 25 and into the space between the sides of thepackaging material, and causing the escapement to move into the hopper.12 again. This motion is accomplished througharcuate movement of thepinion 24 meshing with the rack 23. Similarly, the motion of the disc 86is directly imparted to the shafts 52 through the arms 90 and 94 tocause the sealing blocks to move together to press the cohesive portionsof the material 30 together to seal them, and for the blocks to thenmove apart. This motion is accomplished through arcuate movement of thepinions 51 meshing with the racks 50. That movement of the blocks alsomoves the cutter blades 55 and 56, when used, to sever the sealedpackages along lines centrally of the transverse sealed portions, asshown in FIG. 1. This direct drive arrangement is of the utmostsimplicity, being low in manufacturing cost and maintenance, and high inreliabiliy With the direct drive and with the sealing blocks 47 and 48moving toward one another as the escapement 17 moves an article out ofthe hopper 12 to the chute 25, it is possible for the article to movethrough the trough formed by the strip 30 beyond the sealing blocks 47and 48 to a previously sealed package portion; in that case two articlescan be inserted in one package and none in the following package. Thiscould be overcome by employing various gear drives which would cause theblocks 47 and 48 to close sooner, but this decreases the simplicity ofthe drive and increases the cost thereof. Therefore, to close thepackage portions earlier, a pair of closure plates 98 and 99 (FIGS. 5and 6) are employed with the sealing blocks 47 and 48. These plates haverear guide blocks 100 and 101 received on the lower guide rods 49 alongthe back edges of the sealing blocks 47 and 48. The closure plates havelower protruding edges 102 which engage one another below the packagestrip 30 when the plates are moved together. The plates further haverecessed upper edges 103 which push the sides of the material strip 30toward one another but do not cause them to be pressed together when theprotruding portions 102 are in contact, as shown somewhat schematicallyin fig. 6. Thus, the plates 98 and 99 do not seal the package strip butprevent passage of the articles into a previous package portion.

The plates are urged toward one another by a spring 104 connectedbetween pins 105 and 106 and the plates move toward one another as soonas the sealing blocks 47 and are so moved by the shaft 52. However,since the plates protrude beyond the sealing blocks, they move intoposition adjacent the strip material sooner than the sealing blocks toprevent articles passing therebeyond. Since the closure plates 98 and 99do not engage the packaging material strip 30 fully, the strip 30 canstill advance even after the plates 98 and 99 are in their closedposition, if the advancing movement is not completed by that time. Toaid in directing the plates 98 and 99, pins 107 extend outwardly fromthe sides of the blocks 47 and 48 and are received in slots 108 of theclosure plates, if desired. However, these are not essential.

in the operation of the drive for the packaging machine, the packagingmaterial strip 30 is provided with spaced black portions or marks 109(FIG. 1). 10. An electric eye or similar light-sensing device 110provides a light portion 111 on one side of an edge of the strip 30 anda light-sensitive receiver 112 on the other side of the strip edge.Also, a limit switch LS (FIG. 2) is mounted on the side wall in thehousing 10 and is engaged by the slide of the printing head 37 each'timeit is in its retracted position.

With the strip 30 advancing, when the light-sensing device 110 sensesone of the black marks 109, it de-energizes the electromagnetic clutch72 and disconnects the sprocket 71 from the shaft 34 to stop rotation ofthe advance rolls 33. The device 110 simultaneously energizes the clutch73. The packaging material 30 is then stopped and the variouscomponents, except for the feed rolls 33, are then operated through onecycle. When the printing head 37 returns to its original retractedposition, its slide contacts the limit switch LS which then energizesthe magnetic clutch 72 and de-energizes the clutch 73 to advance thestrip 30 until the sensing device 110 senses the next mark 109.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one of the sealing blocks 47 and 48 can beprovided with a rubber facing strip 113 to provide a cushion and moreuniform pressure. The other block can have a small knife blade 114 toprovide a short tear line in the transversely sealed portions of thepackages to facilitate subsequent opening.

Various modifications of the above described embodiment of the inventionwill be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understoodthat such modifications can be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention, if they are within the spirit and the tenor of theaccompanying claims.

I claim:

1. in a packaging machine comprising means for supporting a source ofsheet material, means for formingthe sheet material into a generallyU-shaped configuration, means for printing indicia on the side of theU-shaped sheet material, means for delivering a predetermined number ofarticles toward the U- shaped sheet material, means for advancing thesheet material and sealing together edges thereof, and sealing memberspositioned to seal the U-shaped sheet material alongtransverselydisposed portions, the improvement comprising drive meansfor operating said advancing and sealing means for the sheet material,and separate drive means for simultaneously directlyoperating saiddelivering means, said printing means, and said sealing members when thesheet material is stationary, said separate drive means comprising rackand pinion means associated with each of said delivering means, saidprinting means, and said sealing members, a first rotatable member,means for driving said rotatable member through one revolution andeffective to impart one complete cycle to each of said delivering meansand said printing means, a second rotatable member driven by said firstrotatable member in an arcuate path, link means connected to said secondrotatable member and effective to. drive said rack and pinion means ofsaid sealing members to impart one complete cycle to said sealingmembers.

2. In a packaging machine comprising means for supporting a source ofsheet material, means for forming the sheet material into a generallyU-shaped configuration, means for printing indicia on the side of theU-shaped sheet material, means for delivering a predetermined number ofarticles toward the U- shaped sheet material, means for advancing thesheet material and sealing together edges thereof, and sealing memberspositioned to seal the U-shaped sheet material alongtransverselydisposed portions, the improvement comprising drive meansfor operating said advancing and sealing means for the sheet material,separate drive means for simultaneously directly operating saiddelivering means, said printing means, and said sealing members when thesheet material is stationary, and two closure plates, one supported byeach of said sealing members, said closure plates extending toward oneanother beyond said sealing members, said closure plates being effectiveto close a portion of the sheet material to prevent an article frompassing thereby prior to the sheet material being sealed by said sealingmembers.

3. A packaging machine according to claim 2 characterized further byresilient means connecting said closure plates and urging them towardone another.

4. A packaging machine according to claim 3 characterized further bymeans connecting said closure plates and the respective sealing membersto limit the movement of said closure plates toward one another asdetermined by the positions of said sealing members.

5. A packaging machine according to claim 2 characterized further bysaid closure plates having protruding edges which engage one another toone side of said sheet material and adjacent recess edges which restrictbut do not seal the packaging material.

6. In a packaging machine comprising means for supporting a source ofsheet material, means for forming the sheet material into a generallyU-shaped configuration, means for delivering a predetermined number ofarticles toward the U-shaped sheet material, means for advancing andsealing edges of the sheet material, and sealing members positioned toseal the U- shaped sheet material along transversely-disposed portions,the improvement comprising two closure plates associated with saidsealing members, said closure plates being effective to engage andrestrict space between the sides of the U-shaped sheet material prior tothe sides being sealed by said sealing members.

7. A packaging machine according to claim 6 characterized further byresilient means connecting said closure plates and urging them towardone another.

8. A packaging machine according to claim 7 characterized by saidclosure plates being engaged by said sealing members and limited intheir movement toward one another by said sealing members.

9. A packaging machine according to claim 6 characterized by drive meansfor simultaneously operating said delivering means, and said sealingmembers when the sheet material is stationary.

10. A packaging machine according to claim 9 charac terized further byseparate drive means for operating said advancing and sealing means forthe sheet material.

11. A packaging machine according to claim 9 characterized by said drivemeans comprising rack and pinion means associated with each of saiddelivering means and said sealing members.

12. A packaging machine according to claim 9 characterized further bysaid drive means comprising a rotatable member, and means for drivingsaid rotatable member through one revolution and effective to impart onecomplete cycle to each of said delivering means and to said sealingmembers.

13. A packaging machine according to claim 12 characterized further bylink and disc means connecting said rotatable member with saiddelivering means and said sealing members.

l i t i i

1. In a packaging machine comprising means for supporting a source ofsheet material, means for forming the sheet material into a generallyU-shaped configuration, means for printing indicia on the side of theU-shaped sheet material, means for delivering a predetermined number ofarticles toward the U-shaped sheet material, means for advancing thesheet material and sealing together edges thereof, and sealing memberspositioned to seal the U-shaped sheet material alongtransversely-disposed portions, the improvement comprising drive meansfor operating said advancing and sealing means for the sheet material,and separate drive means for simultaneously directly operating saiddelivering means, said printing means, and said sealing members when thesheet material is stationary, said separate drive means comprising rackand pinion means associated with each of said delivering means, saidprinting means, and said sealing members, a first rotatable member,means for driving said rotatable member through one revolution andeffective to impart one complete cycle to each of said delivering meansand said printing means, a second rotatable member driven by said firstrotatable member in an arcuate path, link means connected to said secondrotatable member and effective to drive said rack and pinion means ofsaid sealing members to impart one complete cycle to said sealingmembers.
 2. In a packaging machine comprising means for supporting asource of sheet material, means for forming the sheet material into agenerally U-shaped configuration, means for printing indicia on the sideof the U-shaped sheet material, means for delivering a predeterminednumber of articles toward the U-shaped sheet material, means foradvancing the sheet material and sealing together edges thereof, andsealing members positioned to seal the U-shaped sheet material alongtransversely-disposed portions, the improvement comprising drive meansfor operating said advancing and sealing means for the sheet material,separate drive means for simultaneously directly operating saiddelivering means, said printing means, and said sealing members when thesheet material is stationary, and two closure plates, one supported byeach of said sealing members, said closure plates extending toward oneanother beyond said sealing members, said closure plates being effectiveto close a portion of the sheet material to prevent an article fromPassing thereby prior to the sheet material being sealed by said sealingmembers.
 3. A packaging machine according to claim 2 characterizedfurther by resilient means connecting said closure plates and urgingthem toward one another.
 4. A packaging machine according to claim 3characterized further by means connecting said closure plates and therespective sealing members to limit the movement of said closure platestoward one another as determined by the positions of said sealingmembers.
 5. A packaging machine according to claim 2 characterizedfurther by said closure plates having protruding edges which engage oneanother to one side of said sheet material and adjacent recess edgeswhich restrict but do not seal the packaging material.
 6. In a packagingmachine comprising means for supporting a source of sheet material,means for forming the sheet material into a generally U-shapedconfiguration, means for delivering a predetermined number of articlestoward the U-shaped sheet material, means for advancing and sealingedges of the sheet material, and sealing members positioned to seal theU-shaped sheet material along transversely-disposed portions, theimprovement comprising two closure plates associated with said sealingmembers, said closure plates being effective to engage and restrictspace between the sides of the U-shaped sheet material prior to thesides being sealed by said sealing members.
 7. A packaging machineaccording to claim 6 characterized further by resilient means connectingsaid closure plates and urging them toward one another.
 8. A packagingmachine according to claim 7 characterized by said closure plates beingengaged by said sealing members and limited in their movement toward oneanother by said sealing members.
 9. A packaging machine according toclaim 6 characterized by drive means for simultaneously operating saiddelivering means, and said sealing members when the sheet material isstationary.
 10. A packaging machine according to claim 9 characterizedfurther by separate drive means for operating said advancing and sealingmeans for the sheet material.
 11. A packaging machine according to claim9 characterized by said drive means comprising rack and pinion meansassociated with each of said delivering means and said sealing members.12. A packaging machine according to claim 9 characterized further bysaid drive means comprising a rotatable member, and means for drivingsaid rotatable member through one revolution and effective to impart onecomplete cycle to each of said delivering means and to said sealingmembers.
 13. A packaging machine according to claim 12 characterizedfurther by link and disc means connecting said rotatable member withsaid delivering means and said sealing members.